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Just when you got those pesky knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA) statements under your belt when applying to federal government jobs, a new trend has emerged: Self-assessment questions. Also called job-specific questions, self-assessment questions are found in increasing numbers of government agencies' applications. They will be new to some federal job seekers, but don't be put off. These questions are intended ...

[photo:27297] Nobody likes a limp handshake, but you probably don't realize just how much you communicate through your hands, says Jacqueline Whitmore, author of Business Class: Etiquette Essentials for Success at Work. Here's one handshake to use, one to be careful of, and three to avoid. *Types* p((. • "+The Fail-Safe+":http://govcentral.monster.com/benefits/2149-limp-or-stiff-what-your-handshake-says-about-you?page=2 p((. • "+The Rubber Glove+":http://govcentral.monster.com/benefits/2149-limp-or-stiff-what-your-handshake-says-about-you?page=3 p((. • "+The Queen's Handshake+":http://govcentral.monster.com/benefits/2149-limp-or-stiff-what-your-handshake-says-about-you?page=4 ...

h4. Occupations with Top Number of Federal Job Openings As of April 15th, USAJobs.gov has listed these occupations as the top in demand jobs in the last calendar month. Below you'll find the USAJobs data, as well as other key information to landing one of these federal jobs. There are over 10,000 more jobs added since March! Remember, many of these ...

Whether you work for a private employer or a Federal agency . Personal . . When you need access to classified national security information… the Federal agency Security Officer will have you fill out this: STANDARD FORM 86 It asks you for a lot of personal history information and a lot of names and addresses. We’ll ask ...

AmeriCorps — A National Corps of Capable, Committed Individuals AmeriCorps is a network of local, state, and national service programs that connects more than 70,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet our country's critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment. AmeriCorps members serve with more than 3,000 nonprofits, public agencies, and faith-based and community organizations. Since ...

Here's a question I see quite often on the Government Careers message board: I'm in my mid-career and am finding that my career is coming to an end because of downturns in my industry. The jobs are drying up, and my pay isn't keeping up with inflation, so I need to make a change soon. I'm thinking about working for the ...

WASHINGTON - Chris McConnell, 27, of Washington, D.C. has joined GovCentral as Editor and General Manager. McConnell comes most recently from MIQCIE Strategy & Development LLC, a boutique consulting company focused on political, logistical, and communications strategy and development. As founder, McConnell worked with clients to create innovating outreach strategies targeting Congress and Federal Agencies to obtain measurable results. As Editor ...

On Government job postings: Last week someone wrote: "Job posting by the government is notorious. They already know who they want to fill the position but they have to advertise it." And you asked if anyone can speak out in defense of the government. I work in Federal government HR. This is SO not true. A big issue for us is ...

Looking for a job is, indeed, a full time job. And like any full time job, you probably waste a lot of time either completing tasks, or between them. The difference is, when you’re looking for work, you don’t have a boss to answer to. You are only accountable to yourself - and let’s face it, you kind of favor you. ...

Who makes your favorite shoes or outfits? What beverage calls your name when you need a pick-me-up? Whose movies won't you miss? Whose help do you seek when you want a project done right, at home or at work? All of these questions involve your reactions to a particular brand -- a collection of assumptions about quality, appeal and reliability that ...

When you travel overseas, ever notice how native speakers welcome your efforts to communicate in their language? While no one may take you for a local, people appreciate when you show respect for their culture and point of view. Similarly, if you’re interviewing for a job these days, chances are good that you’ll be meeting with people in multiple areas of ...

Unemployment may have dipped to 9.7 percent, but job growth is still lacking. Thankfully, this won't be the case forever. Mint.com, my favorite personal finance website, takes a look at where job growth is expected over the next 20 years. As expected, the largest job growth is in urban areas. Atlanta, GA is projected to have the most job growth at ...

The Federal Wage System (FWS) was developed to make the pay of Federal blue-collar workers comparable to prevailing private sector rates in each local wage area. Before the FWS, there was no central authority to establish wage equity for Federal trade, craft, and laboring employees. In 1965, President Johnson ordered the former Civil Service Commission to work with Federal agencies and ...

Our country faces its most serious economic crisis since the great depression. Working families, who saw their incomes decline by $2,000 in the economic "expansion" from 2000 to 2007, now face even deeper income losses. Retirement savings accounts have lost $2 trillion. Markets have fallen 40% in less than a year. Millions of homeowners who played by the rules can't meet ...

Having trouble figuring out which "grade" you are in on the GS Scale? Use this information to understand: 1) Levels of Qualifying Education or Training 2) What Officially Defines An "Academic Year" 3) The Benefit From College or University Education 4) The Boost From "Superior Academic Achievement" Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions GENERAL POLICIES AND INSTRUCTIONS Part E.4.(b) - E.4.(h) ...

Last month, the Office of Personnel Management published a draft of their strategic plan for 2010-2015 seeking to update, streamline, and modernize how the federal government recruits, hires, trains, and rewards its civilian workforce. John Berry, Director of OPM, stated in a speech entitled A New Day for the Civil Service, that they have set a lofty goal to make the ...

Do you need more information on the federal employment forms that you will need to fill out to begin the federal hiring process? Over the past decade the overall number of federal employment forms has declined and many federal positions do not require any handwritten employment forms. Still, many job vacancy announcements identify one or two of the forms listed ...

Several years ago my husband and I decided to move from the DC area because we had family obligations in Texas. It was difficult to tell my boss that I was leaving. Thank goodness I brought along a box of tissue because, as expected, he cried a lot at the news. Not really, I just like messing with him. If I ...